The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are still battling for a place in the Western Conference Semifinals. L.A. holds a 3-1 series lead after dropping Game 4 in blowout fashion in Houston. The winner of the series will go on to face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the dominant Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder secured their place in the West Semis on Monday night by defeating the Phoenix Suns to conclude a 4-0 sweep. The Suns never truly gave the Thunder a scare, meaning Oklahoma City could probably get ahead of preparation for the second round, and that’s exactly what Gilgeous-Alexander did:
"I've already been watching all of the Lakers and Houston series. Just continue to do so, watch both teams, see their strengths and weaknesses."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander following the sweep against the Suns 🗣️
(via @NBAonNBC)pic.twitter.com/MmRo1kkeep
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 28, 2026
Gilgeous-Alexander is the presumptive Most Valuable Player award winner for the second straight year, and the Thunder are looking to become the first team to repeat as NBA Champions since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.
Regardless of whether they get the Lakers, or history happens and they get the Rockets, they will be heavy favorites to advance to the Western Conference Finals. However, the preparation for a Rockets series or a Lakers one is much different, and no doubt the Thunder are hard at work beginning that preparation as they continue their title defense.
If L.A. advances, they could get both Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic back though, so there may not be much to take away from this first round series if you are the Thunder.
The Lakers, though, can’t begin any sort of preparation on the Thunder, as they need to ensure that they avoid the historic collapse and end the series against the Rockets as soon as possible. Ideally, they close it out in Game 5 in front of their home fans on Wednesday night.
Lakers optimistic Austin Reaves will return in Game 5
The Lakers could be getting massive reinforcements as they look to close out the Rockets at home. Reaves — who has been out since early April — could be making his return to the Lakers lineup.
He has been out since April 2 due to a Grade 2 left oblique strain, but was considered questionable for both Games 3 and 4 in Houston. That means he is getting closer to a return. He was initially given a 4-6-week return timeline, and coming back for Game 5 would be one day before the four-week mark.
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